The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome (1983)

The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome is Slade's eleventh studio album, released by RCA on 3 December 1983. It reached No. 49 in the UK charts. The album was produced largely by Jim Lea, except the album's two UK Top 10 singles, "My Oh My" and "Run Runaway", which were produced by John Punter.

In 1984, the album was re-packaged and released as Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supplyin the United States and Canada. Both "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My" were US Top 40 hits that year, giving the band their long-awaited breakthrough there.

BackgroundFollowing Slade's performance at the Reading festival in 1980, interest in the band was revived and a major record deal with RCA signed. The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome was the band's second studio album for the label and had mostly been recorded in 1982. In November that year, the album's first single, "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie", was released and reached No. 50 in the UK. However, in early 1983, RCA felt the recorded tracks for the album lacked potential chart hits and in the effort to amend that, RCA suggested the band work with producer John Punter. Noddy Holder and Lea then wrote and demoed two songs; "My Oh My" and "Run Runaway". Both were received with enthusiasm by RCA and Punter was hired to work on the two tracks.

Released in November 1983, "My Oh My" became a UK No. 2 hit over the Christmas period, kept from the top spot by The Flying Pickets' cover of "Only You". The success of the single led to RCA rush-releasing The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome in December, rather than February 1984 as intended. The album reached No. 49 in the UK and was a success across Europe. In January 1984, the second single "Run Runaway" reached No. 7. The success of Quiet Riot's version of "Cum On Feel the Noize" in late 1983 led to Slade signing with CBS, who would repackage The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome into Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply in 1984.

The album's title was suggested by Holder. In a 1983 interview, he revealed: "I was reading the sports pages one day and there was an article on motor sport. It talked about the 'kamikaze complex' those guys who compete seem to have in putting their life on the line every time they go on the track. I think Barry Sheene was mentioned as a specific example. Anyway, it struck me that some of our songs fitted in with this idea, so the title seemed a logical choice. And let's face it, everyone has something of that complex in 'em, we all take gambles at some point in our lives."

Speaking to Melody Maker in late 1983, Holder said: "The whole album's very rocky though some of the tracks are more intricate than we've ever done before." Lea told Record Mirror: "Our album is inspired by people doing dangerous exploits, Barry Sheene and sportsmen who live close to the edge."

ReleaseIn a 1986 fan club interview, Holder spoke of the band's wish that a follow-up single from the album had been released following "Run Runaway". He said: "We all felt that there should have been a single out on the back of "Run Runaway". The album was our first big success in America, it was Top 5 all over Europe and Number 1 in Scandinavia for months. Britain was the only place it wasn't a big album. We could have, theoretically, had another single off it. It would have been a hit. There was plenty of good stuff on that album."

PromotionDuring the album's release in December, the band had already embarked on a UK college tour. With the success of "My Oh My", the band were also appearing on UK and European TV regularly, followed by the success of "Run Runaway". As the album was originally to be released in February 1984, plans for a major concert tour had been discussed. However, the tour never took place and after a few concerts in America during 1984, the band would never perform live again, except for a one song performance at the band's 25th Anniversary party, organised by the fan club.

Critical receptionContemporary reviews

Kerrang! stated: "Romping back into the forefront of Eighties pop with an apparently effortless confidence and an untainted infectiousness. Slade are riding hard on the heels of a smash hit single with an album that decently consolidates the success of "My Oh My". Noddy Holder only has to turn on that formidable voice on the opening "Slam the Hammer Down" and you know straight away Slade will never abandon the battle while there's spirit enough left to fight it. A raucous, rollicking and simply addictive little riot that kicks the album off with a resounding start — no wonder people are rediscovering rock 'n' roll these days. Slade have lost none of their old wicked touch."

Sounds commented: "Slade seem to be eternal, eternally young, eternally fun. This album shows conclusively that Slade are still capable of rocking harder and catchier than most bands half their age. They sound so lively and confident you can forgive them the rock 'n' roll clichés they occasionally slip into. As always it's the hell-raisin' metal-boogie stomps that really shake the timbers, and there's enough big stampers here to keep Quiet Riot in hits till 1987!"

Record Mirror said: "This album is Slade's ultimate celebration, now that they've won through the bad times and apathy to be chart contenders all over again. Most of this album isn't exactly going to make you think deeply or alter the course of world history. It's no nonsense stuff to leave you with a throb in your pinkies and a wide smile. Breathtaking entertainment guaranteed."

Anne Lambert of Number One commented: "Slade still carry the same sound - enormous distorted guitars topped by Noddy belting it out for dear life. This album is the latest in a long line, and includes their hit "My Oh My". It will be cherished by Slade fanatics, and tolerated by everyone else."

Linda Duff of Smash Hits said: "On which Four Lads set out to make as big a racket as possible. And with drums that sound like sacks of hobnail boots being chucked down long stairways, violin solos that career dangerously in and out of tune plus steamy guitars that tend to race along, they succeed very well. I wouldn't contemplate life by it, but it's a laff, inn'it? And great for annoying big brothers and sisters."

In April 1984, the Finnish radio station ‎Discopress Ltd picked the album as their "Album of the Week".

Retrospective reviews

Joe Geesin of the webzine Get Ready to Rock! retrospectively wrote: "The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome kicks off proving that while it wasn't the classic Slade of old, they still had it. Noddy still sounded like Noddy, despite the hugely updated production. The riffs were still big, and the solos were if anything better, more metal if commercial metal."

Jeff Giles of Ultimate Classic Rock described the album as a "well-written and smartly polished set of songs that topped off the band's rock sound with pop production perfectly in step with current trends."

In the September–December 1986 Slade fan club magazine, results of a 1986 opinion poll were published. Fans votes for Slade's best album of the 1980s had placed The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome at No. 1.

Song information

"Slam the Hammer Down" opens with a shouted soliloquy by Holder from a helicopter. It would be remixed by Shep Pettibone for release in America as a promotional single in 1984.

"In the Doghouse" features saxophone by Andy Dummit.

"Run Runaway" is a Celtic-flavoured rock-jig. Lea wrote the song on his fiddle, which he played on the track.

"High and Dry" was first released by the British heavy metal band Girlschool. Holder and Lea produced their 1983 album Play Dirty, which featured "High and Dry", along with another Slade song, "Burning in the Heat of Love".

Lea had always wanted to write a "big, folksy ballad" and after presenting the melody idea of "My Oh My", Holder then wrote the lyrics.

"Cocky Rock Boys (Rule O.K.)" is the first Slade track to feature a backward vocal effect. The line "you Frank and Johnny, you're hurting my arm" is heard at the end of the song, which were taken from the 1941 film The Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart.

"Ready to Explode" is an eight-and-half-minute, multi-themed song about the excitement of motor racing. The construction of the song was inspired by Jim Steinman's work with Meat Loaf. The track featured BBC DJ Pete Drummond providing the announcements on the track. The song was split into four different parts: The Warm Up, The Grid, The Race and The Dream. Holder said of the song to Melody Maker: "It's all in sections but it's got a running theme, a riff that links it together. There's an instrumental passage, then a main part of the song, then it goes into another part and there's a slow bit at the end - it's the first thing we've ever done like that, but it's basically a rocker."

"(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie" was originally released as a single in November 1982. In November 2005, on the Mark Radcliffe BBC Radio 2 show, Holder chose for the song to be played, stating that it showed off his voice really well.

"Cheap 'n' Nasty Luv" speaks of prostitution. A closing instrumental section was omitted from the end of the track for the Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply album.

"Razzle Dazzle Man" has two distinctive sections; the first being an up-tempo track with a new wave influence. The second half of the song changes into a ballad featuring acoustic guitar and large group vocals.